Enlarge ImageRequest to buy this photoJonathan Quilter | Dispatch“I’m more concerned about the plays that I don’t make, and to make sure the next time I encounter a play like that I make it,” Ohio State’s Michael Bennett (63) says.

How much of a success story Ohio State defensive tackle Michael Bennett becomes is for future consideration, but coach Urban Meyer left no doubt about how far he has come in a calendar year.

“Michael Bennett, his legend continues,” Meyer said yesterday of the junior from Centerville. “A no-name guy that we were kind of disappointed in (last year) has become a good leader.

“He has become a vocal leader, but his leadership all summer in training camp was by his actions, his work ethic, 4 to 6 seconds of effort (on every play). So he has exceeded my expectations, and he’s performed like an all-Big Ten player.”

But this week, as Bennett prepares for the undefeated Buckeyes’ second straight crucial Big Ten game, at undefeated Northwestern on Saturday night, he didn’t seem to be in the mood for pats on the back. He played with gusto last week in a 31-24 home victory over Wisconsin, seen at times defeating double-team blocks.

“It didn’t feel like I was busting double teams,” Bennett said. “But I don’t know, it’s just trying to play with more technique, more effort. … But I’m really critical about my game. I don’t necessarily look at plays I make as, ‘He made a great play.’ I look at them as, ‘I did my job on that play.’

“So I’m more concerned about the plays that I don’t make, and to make sure the next time I encounter a play like that I make it.”

He admitted that relentless all-out effort was missing from his game in 2012, a season in which nagging injuries played a part in subpar efforts at times.

“I don’t feel like last year I played with consistent effort, and obviously didn’t have very good technique last year,” Bennett said. “So I tried to really work on technique in the offseason. I had to change my mindset and play with better effort.”

Meyer isn’t the only coach who has noticed the improvement.

“He caught my eye when we were preparing, and not just in the pass rush but also, in game films, as far as the run,” Wisconsin coach Gary Andersen said of Bennett yesterday. “The kid plays hard. I think he’s a good football player.

“I really like 97 (Joey Bosa), too, a young freshman. But that’s a talented front. And 63 (Bennett) specifically, he plays hard, good pad level, pushes on the run very, very well, and has gap control. He seems very sound in his technique. And then he’s an athlete playing that defensive tackle spot, and you don’t always see that type athlete at that spot.”

Buckeyes defensive line coach Mike Vrabel made the call in the offseason for Bennett to stay inside, even though Bennett, at 285 pounds, thought he was better suited to play strong-side end while 305-pound sophomore Adolphus Washington seemed to be growing into a tackle.

“But as soon as he said, ‘We’re going to put (Washington) on the outside,’ I was like, ‘Well, guess I gotta get good at D tackle,’” Bennett said. “I have developed that D-tackle mentality; I’ve gotten the technique down a little better, so I recognize myself more as a D tackle than as an end now.”

That D-tackle mentality?

“It’s being tough-nosed, understanding you’re going to have to take on double teams and beat ’em, and you’re probably not going to be making as many plays as the linebackers and the D ends,” Bennett said.

Now he needs to work on the D-tackle physicality.

“I’ve got to get a lot bigger,” Bennett said. “I’m only about 285. I can put on a lot more muscle, try to change some of the fat to muscle. That’s very important to do in this off-season coming up.”